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Massaro L, De Sanctis S, Franchini V, Regalbuto E, Alfano G, Focaccetti C, Benvenuto M, Cifaldi L, Sgura A, Berardinelli F, Marinaccio J, Barbato F, Rossi E, Nardozi D, Masuelli L, Bei R, Lista F. Study of genotoxic and cytotoxic effects induced in human fibroblasts by exposure to pulsed and continuous 1.6 GHz radiofrequency. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1419525. [PMID: 39145180 PMCID: PMC11323689 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1419525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The widespread use of radiofrequency (RF) sources, ranging from household appliances to telecommunications devices and military equipment, raises concerns among people and regulatory agencies about the potential health risks of RF exposure. Consequently, several in vitro and in vivo studies have been done to investigate the biological effects, in particular non-thermal, of this non-ionizing radiation. To date, this issue is still being debated due to the controversial results that have been reported. Furthermore, the impact of different RF signal modulations on biological systems remains poorly investigated. The present in vitro study aims to evaluate the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of continuous or pulsed 1.6 GHz RF in human dermal fibroblasts (HDF). Methods HDF cultures were exposed to continuous and pulsed 1.6 GHz RF, for 2 h, with Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of 0.4 W/kg. The potential biological effects of 1.6 GHz RF on HDF were assessed with a multi-methodological approach, analyzing the effects on cell cycle, ultrastructure, protein expression, mitotic spindle, CREST stained micronuclei, chromosome segregation and γ-H2AX/53BP1 foci. Results 1.6 GHz RF exposure modified proteins expression and morphology of HDF. Specifically, the expression of different heat-shock proteins (HSP) (i.e., HSP-90, HSP-60, and HSP-25) and phospho-AKT were affected. In addition, both continuous and pulsed RF modified the cytoskeletal organization in HDF and increased the number of lysosomes, while the formation of autophagosomes was observed only after pulsed RF exposure. Mitotic spindle anomalies were also found after exposure. However, no significant effect was observed on cell cycle, chromosome segregation, CREST-stained micronuclei and γ-H2AX/53BP1 foci. Conclusion The results of the present study show the absence of genotoxic damage in 1.6 GHz RF exposed HDF and, although mitotic spindle alterations were observed, they did not have an aneugenic effect. On the other hand, changes in some proteins expression and cell ultrastructure in exposed HDF suggest that RF can potentially induce cell alterations at the morphological and molecular levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Massaro
- Radiobiology Section, Defence Center for Biotechnologies, Defence Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Rome, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania De Sanctis
- Radiobiology Section, Defence Center for Biotechnologies, Defence Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Franchini
- Radiobiology Section, Defence Center for Biotechnologies, Defence Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Regalbuto
- Radiobiology Section, Defence Center for Biotechnologies, Defence Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Rome, Italy
| | - Gaetano Alfano
- Radiobiology Section, Defence Center for Biotechnologies, Defence Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Focaccetti
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Benvenuto
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Loredana Cifaldi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Sgura
- Department of Science, University of Rome “Roma Tre”, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Federica Barbato
- Department of Science, University of Rome “Roma Tre”, Rome, Italy
| | - Erica Rossi
- Department of Science, University of Rome “Roma Tre”, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Nardozi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Masuelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Bei
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Florigio Lista
- Radiobiology Section, Defence Center for Biotechnologies, Defence Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Rome, Italy
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Mukthavaram R, Jiang P, Pastorino S, Nomura N, Lin F, Kesari S. Evaluation of the EMulate Therapeutics Voyager's ultra-low radiofrequency energy in murine model of glioblastoma. Bioelectron Med 2024; 10:10. [PMID: 38594769 PMCID: PMC11005219 DOI: 10.1186/s42234-024-00143-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma (GBM) presents as an aggressive brain cancer, notorious for its recurrence and resistance to conventional treatments. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the EMulate Therapeutics Voyager®, a non-invasive, non-thermal, non-ionizing, battery-operated, portable experimental medical device, in treating GBM. Using ultra-low radiofrequency energy (ulRFE) to modulate intracellular activity, previous preliminary results in patients have been encouraging. Now, with a focus on murine models, our investigation seeks to elucidate the device's mechanistic impacts, further optimizing its therapeutic potential and understanding its limitations. METHODS The device employs a silicone over molded coil to deliver oscillating magnetic fields, which are believed to interact with and disrupt cellular targets. These fields are derived from the magnetic fluctuations of solvated molecules. Xenograft and syngeneic murine models were chosen for the study. Mice were injected with U-87 MG or GL261 glioma cells in their flanks and were subsequently treated with one of two ulRFE cognates: A1A, inspired by paclitaxel, or A2, based on murine siRNA targeting CTLA4 + PD1. A separate group of untreated mice was maintained as controls. RESULTS Mice that underwent treatments with either A1A or A2 exhibited significantly reduced tumor sizes when compared to the untreated cohort. CONCLUSION The EMulate Therapeutics Voyager® demonstrates promising potential in inhibiting glioma cells in vivo through its unique ulRFE technology and should be further studied in terms of biological effects in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh Mukthavaram
- Neuro-Oncology Program, Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Pengfei Jiang
- Neuro-Oncology Program, Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sandra Pastorino
- Neuro-Oncology Program, Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Natsuko Nomura
- Neuro-Oncology Program, Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Pacific Neuroscience Institute & Saint John's Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, 2200 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USA
| | - Feng Lin
- Curescience Institute, 5820 Oberlin Drive Ste 202, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Santosh Kesari
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Pacific Neuroscience Institute & Saint John's Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, 2200 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USA.
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Barkhoudarian G, Badruddoja M, Blondin N, Chowdhary S, Cobbs C, Duic JP, Flores JP, Fonkem E, McClay E, Nabors LB, Salacz M, Taylor L, Vaillant B, Gill J, Kesari S. An expanded safety/feasibility study of the EMulate Therapeutics Voyager™ System in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. CNS Oncol 2023; 12:CNS102. [PMID: 37462385 PMCID: PMC10410686 DOI: 10.2217/cns-2022-0016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: The EMulate Therapeutics Voyager™ is a simple, wearable, home-use device that uses an alternating electromagnetic field to alter biologic signaling within cells. Objective: To assess the safety/feasibility of the Voyager in the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM). Methods: In this study, patients with rGBM were treated with Voyager as monotherapy or in combination with standard chemotherapy at the Investigator's discretion. Safety was assessed by incidence of adverse events associated with the Voyager. Patients were followed until death. Results: A total of 75 patients were enrolled and treated for at least one day with the Voyager (safety population). Device-related adverse events were uncommon and generally did not result in interruption or withdrawal from treatment. There were no serious adverse events associated with Voyager. A total of 60 patients were treated for at least one month (clinical utility population). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 17 weeks (4.3 months) in the Voyager only group (n = 24) and 21 weeks (5.3 months) in the Voyager + concurrent therapy group (n = 36). The median overall survival (OS) was 7 months in the Voyager only group and 9 months in the Voyager + concurrent therapy group. In patients treated with Voyager + concurrent therapy, the median OS for patients enrolled with their 1st or 2nd recurrence (n = 26) was 10 months, while in patients enrolled with their 3rd or 4th recurrence (n = 10) OS was 7 months. Conclusion: The data support the safety and feasibility of the Voyager for the treatment of rGBM. Further prospective study of the device is warranted. Trial Registration Number: NCT02296580 (ClinicalTrials.gov).
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Affiliation(s)
- Garni Barkhoudarian
- Saint John's Cancer Institute & Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence St. John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA
| | | | - Nicholas Blondin
- Associated Neurologists of Southern Connecticut, Fairfield, CT 06824, USA
| | | | - Charles Cobbs
- Swedish Medical Center, Ben and Catherine Ivy Center For Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment, Seattle, WA 98122, USA
| | | | | | | | - Edward McClay
- cCARE (California Cancer Associates for Research & Excellence), Encinitas, CA 92024, USA
| | - Louis Burt Nabors
- University of Alabama, Division of Neuro-Oncology, Birmingham, AL 35294-3410, USA
| | - Michael Salacz
- University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Lynn Taylor
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | - Jaya Gill
- Saint John's Cancer Institute & Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence St. John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA
| | - Santosh Kesari
- Saint John's Cancer Institute & Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence St. John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA
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Figueroa XA, Lacambra L, Butters BM. Pain reduction in validated rat pain models: radio frequency spectrum targeted at the low and ultra-low ends using the emulate® delivery system. Electromagn Biol Med 2022; 41:353-363. [PMID: 36239249 DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2022.2131568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
EMulate Therapeutics, Inc. (EMTx) has developed a technology to deliver time-varying magnetic fields as WAV files, emitted in the extremely low through the low spectrum of radio frequencies (DC to 22 kHz), that can be applied to regulate pain sensation. These low power fields (~30-70 milli-Gauss AC RMS) are delivered via a portable, light-weight wearable device (Voyager). A contract third-party animal research organization (ANS Biotech, S.A.) specializing in validated rat pain models, ran the studies independently of the authors. Here we report that a subset of signals demonstrated a statistically significant effect in reducing the sensation of pain in rat models for visceral pain, neuropathic pain and inflammatory pain. Furthermore, removing frequencies above 6 kHz in the original signals improve the pain reducing effects of the unmodified signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier A Figueroa
- Pre-Clinical Development, EMulate Therapeutics, Inc, Bellevue, WA, USA
| | - Lucas Lacambra
- Pre-Clinical Development, EMulate Therapeutics, Inc, Bellevue, WA, USA
| | - B Michael Butters
- Pre-Clinical Development, EMulate Therapeutics, Inc, Bellevue, WA, USA
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Abrams M, Reichman N, Khatri D, Patel NV, D’Amico RS, Wong T, Fralin S, Li M, Symons M, Langer D, Filippi CG, Boockvar JA. Update on glioma biotechnology. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2020; 195:106075. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2020.106075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Alphandéry E. Glioblastoma Treatments: An Account of Recent Industrial Developments. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:879. [PMID: 30271342 PMCID: PMC6147115 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The different drugs and medical devices, which are commercialized or under industrial development for glioblastoma treatment, are reviewed. Their different modes of action are analyzed with a distinction being made between the effects of radiation, the targeting of specific parts of glioma cells, and immunotherapy. Most of them are still at a too early stage of development to firmly conclude about their efficacy. Optune, which triggers antitumor activity by blocking the mitosis of glioma cells under the application of an alternating electric field, seems to be the only recently developed therapy with some efficacy reported on a large number of GBM patients. The need for early GBM diagnosis is emphasized since it could enable the treatment of GBM tumors of small sizes, possibly easier to eradicate than larger tumors. Ways to improve clinical protocols by strengthening preclinical studies using of a broader range of different animal and tumor models are also underlined. Issues related with efficient drug delivery and crossing of blood brain barrier are discussed. Finally societal and economic aspects are described with a presentation of the orphan drug status that can accelerate the development of GBM therapies, patents protecting various GBM treatments, the different actors tackling GBM disease, the cost of GBM treatments, GBM market figures, and a financial analysis of the different companies involved in the development of GBM therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edouard Alphandéry
- Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, UMR 7590 CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC, University Paris 06, Paris, France.,Nanobacterie SARL, Paris, France
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Ulasov IV, Foster H, Butters M, Yoon JG, Ozawa T, Nicolaides T, Figueroa X, Hothi P, Prados M, Butters J, Cobbs C. Precision knockdown of EGFR gene expression using radio frequency electromagnetic energy. J Neurooncol 2017; 133:257-264. [PMID: 28434113 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-017-2440-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/15/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Electromagnetic fields (EMF) in the radio frequency energy (RFE) range can affect cells at the molecular level. Here we report a technology that can record the specific RFE signal of a given molecule, in this case the siRNA of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). We demonstrate that cells exposed to this EGFR siRNA RFE signal have a 30-70% reduction of EGFR mRNA expression and ~60% reduction in EGFR protein expression vs. control treated cells. Specificity for EGFR siRNA effect was confirmed via RNA microarray and antibody dot blot array. The EGFR siRNA RFE decreased cell viability, as measured by Calcein-AM measures, LDH release and Caspase 3 cleavage, and increased orthotopic xenograft survival. The outcomes of this study demonstrate that an RFE signal can induce a specific siRNA-like effect on cells. This technology opens vast possibilities of targeting a broader range of molecules with applications in medicine, agriculture and other areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilya V Ulasov
- Ben & Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, 550 17th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA.
| | - Haidn Foster
- Ben & Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, 550 17th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA
| | - Mike Butters
- Nativis Inc., 219 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Jae-Geun Yoon
- Ben & Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, 550 17th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA
| | - Tomoko Ozawa
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Research Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Theodore Nicolaides
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Research Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Xavier Figueroa
- Nativis Inc., 219 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Parvinder Hothi
- Ben & Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, 550 17th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA
| | - Michael Prados
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Research Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - John Butters
- Nativis Inc., 219 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Charles Cobbs
- Ben & Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, 550 17th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA.
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Thomas Y. From high dilutions to digital biology: the physical nature of the biological signal. HOMEOPATHY 2015; 104:295-300. [PMID: 26678732 DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2015.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Revised: 05/07/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The memory of water was a radical idea that arose in the laboratory of Jacques Benveniste in the late 1980s. Twenty-five years have passed and yet the often angry debate on its merits continues despite the increasing number of scientists who have reported confirmation of the basic results. One working hypothesis was that molecules can communicate with each other, exchanging information without being in physical contact and that at least some biological functions can be mimicked by certain energetic modes characteristics of a given molecule. These considerations informed exploratory research which led to the speculation that biological signaling might be transmissible by electromagnetic means. Around 1991, the transfer of specific molecular signals to sensitive biological systems was achieved using an amplifier and electromagnetic coils. In 1995, a more sophisticated procedure was established to record, digitize and replay these signals using a multimedia computer. From a physical and chemical perspective, these experiments pose a riddle, since it is not clear what mechanism can sustain such 'water memory' of the exposure to molecular signals. From a biological perspective, the puzzle is what nature of imprinted effect (water structure) can impact biological function. A parallel can be drawn between this debate on the memory of water, which presumes that the action of molecules is mediated by an electromagnetic phenomenon, and the often acrimonious debate on the transmission of nerve influxes via synaptic transfer of specific molecules, neurotransmitters. The latter debate began in 1921 with the first experiments by Loewi and was still active in 1949, 28 years later. A strong reluctance to accept research that questions basic aspects of long-accepted biochemical paradigms is to be expected. In this paper we will provide a brief summary of experiments relating to the memory of water: the earlier work on high dilutions (HD) and then the experiments, which followed and continue today, on digital biology.
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